Gaucho Basketball Attendance Hits Highest Mark in 17 Years

SANTA BARBARA, Calif. – The UC Santa Barbara men's basketball program recorded its highest average attendance and highest total attendance in 17 years in 2011-12, it was announced Tuesday.

The Gauchos drew an average of 3,323 for their 14 Thunderdome dates in 2011-12, their highest average since 1995-95. The season included a sellout of 6,000 against Long Beach State on Jan. 21 and crowds of 5,516 on Nov. 30 against UNLV and 5,011 on Nov. 26 against San Diego State. It was the first time since 1994-95 that as many as three games drew 5,000 or more through the gates.

UCSB's total men's basketball attendance this season was 46,519, easily the most since 1995-95 and the first total in excess of 40,000 since 1996-97. Finally, it also marked the first time since 1995-95 that every home crowd exceeded 2,000.

The addition of San Diego State and Hawaii to the Big West Conference, as well as future non-conference home schedules that include Cal, LSU and Utah State, among others, bode well for continued attendance growth at Gaucho basketball games.

UCSB (18-9 overall, 12-4 in the Big West) will travel to the Big West Tournament this week, playing Pacific at noon on Thursday at Honda Center. Tickets remain available and can be purchased by dropping by the Ticket Office in the Intercollegiate Athletics Building on campus or by calling 805-893-UCSB (8272).